My Koi Pond v2.0

There's something so Zen about Koi ponds and I'm feeling kind of mellow, so I decided to create another Koi pond card using SCACD's Customize Your Koi Pond rubber stamp set. The great thing about this set is that it has three different Koi and three different lily pads so that you truly CAN customize your own Koi Ponds!

I felt like using my Copics because they were feeling neglected, so I stamped the small and medium sized lily pads using Bamboo Leaves and Cottage Ivy Memento inks onto Neenah cardstock. I also stamped the lily pads onto Post-It notes, fussy-cut them, and then adhered the masks over their counterparts.

The two large Koi were stamped with Tangelo Memento ink. I had kept the masks from my last pond, so I adhered the masks to the large Koi. Using a stamp positioner, the medium sized Koi were stamped next with Rusty Hinge Distress ink. The medium sized Koi were also stamped onto a *Post-It note pad, fussy-cut, and these masks were placed. The smallest sized Koi were stamped using Dried Marigold Distress ink, again using a stamp positioner for placement. *Post-It note masks were also stamped, fussy-cut, and placed.

With the stamping complete, the masks were kept in place and a background was airbrushed using B and BG Copic markers and my Copic airbrush system. When I was happy with the coverage, the masks were lifted and all the fish and lily pads were colored with Copic markers. This actually took some thinking, oh my poor brain, so that the fish would appear to be swimming in different depths in the pond. The smallest Koi were the dullest in color so they'd be the deepest swimmers. The middle fish were above them, and the largest Koi were closest to the surface, but under the lily pads. I hope I achieved that effect with coloring and shading! When all the coloring was done, the masks were placed over the lily pads and the scene was airbrushed again with B and BG Copic marker. The masks were removed, and the Koi Pond was set aside.

Mottled gray textured cardstock was die-cut (unevenly) with two Grand Labels 11 Nestabilities on my new (and fabulous) Magnetic Platform. Chalk pencil was used to create the look of stone pavers. The excess chalk was brushed across the frame to make the stone look a bit more weathered. Black Soot Distress marker was used to add more depth and detail.

The Koi Pond was diecut using the larger Grand Labels 11 Nestabilities and adhered to a plain green card. This was then outlined using the Black Soot Distress marker. The stone frame was adhered in place and some seriously very old Rain Dot clear epoxy splashes were added to finish the card.

*A tip for creating Post-It Note masks: When you need multiple masks of the same image, stamp the image up near the top of the pad where the adhesive is, then pull of as many notes as you need, being sure to keep them adhered to one another. Then you only need to fussy-cut once, but will end up with many masks. I've been able to cut up to five notes at a time!

Thanks for visiting today!

• Chalk N Stock Challenges: Anything Goes
• Tuesday Throwdown: Anything Goes
• Color Me Creative: Anything Goes

Monochromatic! Blues

* Please scroll down for my Bombshell Hump Day Hop card! *

Tanja is hosting this week's Stampotique Designers Challenge, which is "Monochromatic". If you'd like to play along with this challenge, visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules, so that you'll have the chance to win a great prize!!!

Here's what Tanja had to say about her challenge!

Hello crafty fellows, today it's my turn. I selected the theme "Monochromatic". Well, in fact it's a big challenge to myself.  I actually prefer it a little more colorful. But restrict myself to work tone in tone? First let's see the projects from the amazing Stampotiue Design Team. And now... Come on up! I'm longing to see all your stunning monochromatic artworks. Hugs Tanja

Here's my monochromatic journal page using Stampotique's Single Tear.

A brayer was used to paint Antartica, Ice Blue, then Sky Blue Fresco Finish Acrylic paints onto 140 lb. Multimedia cardstock. After each color, the brayer was rolled onto another sheet of this cardstock to clean it. When I was happy with the depth of color, Peacoat Fresco Finish Acrylic paint was watered down and brayered over the mixed blues to add a touch of darker blue.  A mini-mister was filled with 2/3 water and 1/3 Peacoat Fresco Finish Acrylic paint, shaken, then sprayed onto the painted cardstock, which was standing up on paper towel to allow the drips to travel down the paper. When I was happy with the result, I heat set both the sheets of cardstock.

The "clean-up" cardstock was die-cut using SCACD's Classic Clock die, the Musical Notes Die-Namics die, and a Boss-Kut alphabet. These die-cuts were adhered to the painted cardstock using Matte Glue and Seal, which was also used to add several layers to protect the piece.

Stampotique's Single Tear was stamped onto tissue paper using Deep Lagoon VersaFine ink and heat set. The tissue was flipped over and Ice Blue Fresco Finish Acrylic paint was sponged behind the image. Matte Glue and Seal was brushed over white cardstock and the stamped painted tissue paper was adhered to it. This piece was then adhered to the journal page using Matte Glue and Seal and an additional layer of Matte Glue and Seal was brushed over the entire piece.


Translucent Embossing Paste by Dreamweaver was brushed over a 6x6 Raindrops stencil by Prima and allowed to dry over night. The next morning it was a bit flat looking, so I added some white Glaze pen to the drops, but that still didn't ring my bell, so I added some Diamond Glaze to the drops to make them rounder. While I was adding the Diamond Glaze, I decided to add some over the tear on the Single Tear image. The piece was set aside to dry and I left my craftroom to resist the temptation to touch the Diamond Glaze. (Guess how I learned that lesson!)

When I returned, everything was dry, the raindrops looked like raindrops and the tear looked teary. I was happy, but the page still looked a little flat to me. Then I remembered that I had received White Fire Treasure Gold as a holiday gift, so I got out that bad boy and used a fuzzy paintbrush to brush some shiny glimmer over the die-cuts on the page. Much better! This magpie does like shine and shimmer!

A bit of hand journaling was added and the page was then adhered to the journal using Matte Glue and Seal, allowed to dry, then dragged outside for a photo shoot.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall be entering this journal page in the following challenges:
• Country View Challenge #12: Painty Pleasures 
• Take a Word Challenge: Blue
• Simon Says Monday Challenges: Paste
• Perfectly Rustics: Shades of One Color
• Timbroscrapmania Challenge #88: Monochromatics
• Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenges: Monochromatic
• Inspiration Journal: Show it with Words

Bombshell's Hump Day Hop!

Greetings! Bombshell's lovely and talented Challenge Captain, Alison, has set this month's blog hop theme, which is a color challenge, based on a fabulous color palette from Design Seeds.

Here's the palette:

You should have arrived here from Monika blog, where you no doubt, saw something totally fabulous!


Here's my card, which features rubber stamps from the Bombshell Patterns and the Hula Girl sets. Apparently, I was only supposed to use colors from the palette above, plus neutrals. However, I'm an anarchist and used green for my leaves.

The Hibiscus Pattern stamp from the Bombshell Patterns set was stamped several times onto Neenah cardstock using Peacock Feathers Distress ink, then colored with Copic markers. It was then diecut using a Spellbinders Corner die, which was part of a set that I got for $10.00. Gotta love a bargain. The four corners were set aside.

The Aloha Banner stamp from the Hula Girl set was stamped using Tuxedo Black Memento ink, then colored with Copic markers. It was also stamped onto Eclipse tape, fussy cut, and the mask was placed over its counterpart. Previously die-cut and saved Memory Box clouds were temporarily adhered to the background, which was then airbrushed with my Copic airbrush system. The masks were all lifted and the clouds were outlined and detailed with CO and CO0 Copic markers.

The corners were adhered, the entire piece was edged with Peacock Feathers Distress ink, and then mounted onto a plain white A2 card.

Thanks for stopping by today! Your next stop on the hop is Alaine's blog, where she's sure to wow and inspire you with her fantastic coloring and great design!

If you get lost along the way or want to revisit any of the blogs, here's the hop list!
Bombshell Blog
Alison
Kim
Glittery Katie
Monika
Kathi (You are here!)
Alaine

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Paperminutes: On the Fly
• Crafty Cardmakers and More: Come Fly with Me
• Stamping Sensations: Wings, Fantasy, and Fiction
• Outlawz: Friday Alcohol Markers Challenges: Things with Wings

Bombshell Stamps Muse Monday!

Throughout February, the Bombshell Girls have been sharing some fun projects showcasing the Sugar Daddy set.  Click on over to Bombshell's Blog to check out all the great projects!

Here's the set!

 

Here's my card which also uses a modification of the sketch I created for February. 

Pimpin' Wolf (his real name), from the Sugar Daddy set was stamped using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. His teeth, cufflinks, and the buttons on his jacket were coated with a layer of Clear Gelly Glaze pen to make 'em shiny and dimensional. 

The mat under the wolf is a patterned paper sheet from the Origins 6x6 pad by Basic Grey (the mat under the wolf) and the card suit patterned paper is from the Well Played 6x6 pad by Carta Bella. It's gone now, but you can find lots of other nifty pads HERE.

The sentiment die cut is a new one from Memory Box. It was edged with a silver leafing pen, which was also used to edge the card. The ribbon is from my stash.

Here's the sketch. 

Feel free to take it and make it your own. If you use Bombshell Stamps with it, be sure to share it with us on Bombshell's blog for a chance to win a fab prize.

What lurks beneath the surface?

What a profound question! Apparently strange scenes lurk in my brain.

This project uses three of the fish skeleton stamps from SCACD's Montage Set #1, a fabulous set that contains sixteen (16) stamps! However, if you don't want 'em all (why not?), the stamps ARE available in smaller sets. I used one of the stamps from the Fossilized Sea Shells set and three stamps from the Fish Frames set.

The first step was to sponge Jet Black and Watering Can Archival ink over the Skullduggery stencil (Andy Skinner for Tando Creative) onto 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock by Strathmore. I also sponged the ink over the stencil onto a piece of scrap paper, which I cut out to use for masking. When I was done sponging, I darkened the eye sockets with a Prismacolor marker.

The mask was positioned over the skull using removable adhesive. Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, and Chipped Sapphire Distress inks were lightly sponged over the Brain Coral stencil by ArtistCellar. The Distress inks were heat set.

The skull's mask was removed and the temporary adhesive was erased. Three of fish skellies from the Fish Frames set were stamped using white pigment ink and embossed with White Filagree Fine Detail embossing powder. The bottom swordfish's tail has disappeared into the blackness of the skull's eyesocket. The long snaky fish has swum (is that a word?) behind the skull and is emerging through the nose hole. The shell has become cemented to the skull's forehead. And yes, this piece reveals a bit too much about my psyche.

The branches of the trees looked like coral to me, so the small tree from the Baobab Tree set was inked with Jet Black Archival ink and stamped along the bottom of the piece.

Old Paper, Black Soot Distress, and Watering Can Archival inks were sponged around the skull to age it and add dimension. The embossed areas resisted the ink as planned. Chalk pencils were used to add additional dimension and shading to the skull.

The skull mask was placed over the skull again and the Brain Coral stencil was taped in the same position. Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, and Chipped Sapphire Distress inks were sponged more heavily over the Brain Coral stencil. The stencil was lifted and the entire piece was edged with the same colors of Distress ink, the Black Soot Distress ink was sponged along the edges to add additional contrast.

The last step was to add the sentiment using my rapidly diminishing supply of Doodlebug rub-on alphabets. 

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Craft A Scene: Use Your Favorite Technique -- I love stencils and ink sponging and masking :D
• Make It Monday #179: Anything Goes
• The Artistic Stamper Challenges: Use Distress 
• Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenges: Anything goes with the optional twist Triple Play Three fish, three colors of Distress ink sponged over the stencil.

Wine not see clearly!

Corrie is this week's host at the Stampotique Designers Challenge blog.  Her challenge is to use acetate in your artwork!

Here's what Corrie had to say about her challenge!

Now, if you are anything like me, you will keep all wrapping paper, cardboard and of course acetate (clear plastic). We all get lots of it : packaging. I particularly like acetate to use in my projects, whether it is to stamp on or use it in any other way. I just love it. So this week I would like YOU to use a bit of acetate. Let your imagination run wild and surprise me !!!

If you'd like to play along with this challenge, visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read and follow the rules, so that you'll have the chance to win a great prize!!!

Here's my art journal page!

Stampotique's Carousel was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto Neenah cardstock, colored with Copic markers, then fussy-cut, and set aside. The Hand was stamped with Onyx Black VersaFine ink onto Neenah cardstock, heat set with Clear Detail embossing powder, colored with Copic markers, then fussy-cut. It lacked a bit of dimension, so I used some chalk pencils to add some shading. The nails were coated with a layer of Clear Stardust Glitter pen and a layer of Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen. The nails still faded a bit into the background, so I colored over the Glaze pen with a Prismacolor marker and put another layer of Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen over it! Much better. The hand was set aside.

Like Corrie, I keep/hoard all sorts of oddments, including most acetate packaging, which I find ever-so-useful for so many things. This time it was die-cut with Die-Namics wine glasses and bottles dies. Both the glasses and the bottle were painted with Fresco Finish Acrylic paint, then edged with a black Prismacolor marker. The goblets and bottle were flipped over and the wine bottle received a computer-generated label (from my fantasy winery) and a touch of gold Krylon ink for the seal.

It was time to create a background for my Carousel,  Hand, wine glasses, and bottle! Pieces of Idea-ology Terminology Tissue Wrap were adhered to a sheet of 5" x 8" 140 lb. Multi-Media media cardstock (Strathmore) with Matte Glue and Seal, and heat-set. Removable Scotch tape and self-stick notes were used to mask the path and the grass. The "sky" was painted with Stormy Sky Distress paint. Some watered-down Snowflake and Candy Floss Fresco Finish Acrylic paints were streaked across the Stormy Sky. The paint was heat-set, then Stormy Sky Distress ink was sponged over the Bubble Layering stencil and heat-set. Stormy Sky Distress ink was sponged over the Rays Layering stencil, sprinkled with Clear Detail embossing powder, and heat-set. A yellow Prismacolor marker was used to color the rays. The tape and self-stick note masks were lifted and the path and grass were painted respectively with Pumice Stone and Mowed Grass Distress paints.  The whole page was heat set, then Black Soot Distress ink was used to edge the sheet.

The Carousel, acetate wine glasses, and bottle were adhered to the painted, sponged background. A piece of lace was adhered to the Hand, which was then adhered to the upper right hand corner with the finger touching the top of the Carousel. This sheet was then adhered to a page in my journal. Washi tape was added along the left hand edge and very old, almost ancient rub-ons were used to add the sentiment.

Here are some close-ups of my journal page.

Thanks for visiting today.

Love is still in the air...

What can I say? I like making Valentine's Day cards.

Here's one using SCACD's new ever-so-cool Soul Chimes stamp together with the Steampunk Heart from the also new, also cool Steampunk Heart with Wings set. I think the Soul Chimes stamp is very cool and would look good on all sorts of projects!

Soul Chimes was stamped with Pearlescent Poppy Brilliance ink onto pink patterned paper from last year's Valentine's Day 6x6 pad by Authentique, then embossed with Clear Detail Embossing powder. Clear Wink of Stella Glitter pen was used to add shimmer and sparkle to the dangly hearts, stars, and circles. I would have used my beloved Clear Stardust Gel pen, but it was all out of sparkle. Big bummer.

I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to position the Steampunk Heart, then it too was stamped with Pearlescent Poppy Brilliance ink and embossed. I colored the heart with cool gray Copic markers, then filled in the outline with the Clear Wink of Stella Glitter pen.

Washi tape was added to the base of the card front, which was then matted on dark silvery gray metallic cardstock by Bazzill Basics. I mounted the card front onto deep red cardstock and called it done. It was a relatively quick and easy card for someone who doesn't do quick and easy often.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges!
• Crafting When We Can Challenge #63: Lots of Bling
• Color Me Creative: Anything Goes
• Card Makin' Mamas Challenge #80: Make It Sparkle
• Paper Crafting Journey: Love is in the Air

My turn to host Stampotique Designers Challenge!

It's my turn to host this week's Stampotique Designers Challenge. Here's what I've got to say about it!

It's almost Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day makes me think of couples, so my challenge is called Perfect Pairs.

Use two (2) of an item so that things are in pairs. This can be two images, two embellishments, two layers of patterned paper, two colors, etc.

See how many pairs you can use in your project. Just be sure to use at least one perfect pair and have fun!

I'd love if you'd play along with this challenge. Be sure to read the challenge rules so that you get entered for a chance to win a fabulous prize!

Here's my card, featuring Stampotique's Gibi and Tobi.

 

Gibi was stamped using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. She was also stamped onto Eclipse Tape and fussy-cut. The Eclipse Tape was placed over her and Tobi was stamped, also using Tuxedo Black Memento ink, then colored with Copic markers. Tobi stamped again onto Eclipse Tape and fussy-cut.

Once his mask was in place, Spun Sugar Distress ink was sponged over the plain long heart from the Mix and Match Hearts stencil by The Crafter's Workshop, then outlined with a Spun Sugar Distress marker. This process was done twice, so the hearts appeared to be intertwined.

The plain long heart from the Mix and Match Hearts stencil was traced onto a double layer of Eclipse Tape and fussy-cut. These Eclipse Tape masks were layered over the hearts and the background was airbrushed behind all the masks with the Copic airbrush system. Copic markers were used to add a grassy ground for my lovely couple.

The stamped panel was die-cut using a Nestabilities die by Spellbinders, then adhered to a cardfront created from two layered (and Black Soot Distress ink edged) patterned papers from the very old Eskimo Kisses 6x6 pad by Basic Grey.

The sentiment was computer generated, then die-cut using an Impression Obsession die.  Spun Sugar Distress ink was sponged over the Dot-Fade Layered stencil and the Stripes Layered stencil (btw, the Layered stencils are on sale right now) onto the two die-cuts. Two heart-shaped gemstones were added to each die-cut and the card was finished with two sets of round gemstones.

If you're counting, my pairs are:

1. Two stamped images, namely Stampotique's Gibi and Tobi.
2. Two stenciled, outlined hearts. 
3. Two layered patterned papers
4. A two-part sentiment 
5. Two die-cuts (sentiments)
6. Two different stencilled backgrounds on the sentiments (Dot Fade and Stripes)
7. Two sets of heart-shaped gemstones
8. Two sets of round gemstones 

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall be entering this card in the following challenges:
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges: We Love Stamps
• Crafter's Cafe Challenge #50: Must Have Hearts
• Fab and Funky Challenge #203: Love/Valentine Theme
• Card Mania Challenge #40: Love is All Around 

Time for Love!

Here's a wall-hanging that used my left-over hearts from last week's Stampotique Designers Challenge. Actually, truth be told, I had this project in mind when I started to die-cut and emboss foil-covered cardstock hearts.

If you visit here, you know I love all things Steampunk and also love birds. This wall-hanging brings together both loves and is also seasonally inspired.

Here it is!

This card features Special Delivery*, a Steampunk parrot, who is one of the five stamps included in SCACD's fabulous MechAnimals rubber stamp set. He was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto Neenah cardstock, colored, then cut out using micro-tip scissors and my handy-dandy Fiskar's Fingertip-Control Swivel Kraft knife. When I was done, a black Big Brush pen was used to edge the piece so that unsightly white would not show. Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen was added to his beak and talons to add dimension and shine. He was set aside while I worked on the rest of the piece.

I used a 5" x 7" flat canvas as my substrate. A piece of hoarded clock-patterned cardstock by Imaginisce was painted with Snowflake Fresco Finish Acrylic paint by Paper Artsy because I wanted to neutralize the background yet keep the clocks. Claudine Helmuth Studio Multi-Medium was used to adhere the painted patterned cardstock to the canvas. SCACD's Contempo Compass Statement Corner and Alice's Clock Statement Corner dies were used to die-cut cardstock. These die-cuts were adhered to the upper left and lower right corners of the canvas.

Now it was time to paint! I had selected three different shades of blue Fresco Finish paints, but the shades that I had chosen were opaque. I wanted the clocks to show, so the paints were watered down a bit and then sponged randomly over the canvas and heat-set after each layer. When I was happy with the coverage, Chipped Sapphire and Salty Ocean Distress inks were sponged over a Clocks stencil by Prima and the Gears stencil by The Crafter's Workshop.

The next step was to brush Pewter and Rose Quartz Treasure Gold by Paper Artsy over the raised, painted corner die-cuts to make 'em pop. The canvas still needed something, so I searched through all my rub-ons and added the words "time" and "love" as well as some hearts.

Here's a photo of the painted, die-cut, guilded, and rubbed-on canvas. The eagle-eyed among you will find a mistake and a discrepancy between this photo and the finished piece.

To create the heart, I applied Flashing Tape to black cardstock, but you could just as easily use Inkssentials Silver Foil tape. Heart and Scalloped Heart Nestabilities dies by Spellbinders dies were used to die-cut the cardstock, then the plain heart took a ride through my Big Kick inside of an Alterations embossing folder. When it came out,  I painted it with Fired Brick and Aged Mahogany Distress paints, let the paint set for a minute, then wiped it off. The paint stayed in the debossed areas.

Since I love me some Steampunk, I collect watch parts, gears, and keys as well as a motherlode of Idea-ology Findings and Fasteners. Some of the colors were altered using Copic markers and/or paint. These bits and bobs were adhered to the heart using mini-brads and/or dimensional foam squares. The final step was to perch Special Delivery, the Steampunk parrot, upon the heart using foam tape.

Here are two close-ups so you can see the details.

*I neglected to mention that Special Delivery, SCACD's Steampunk parrot, is also available as a digital stamp! Here's a direct LINK to it, but while you're there, you should take a peek at all of SCACD's Digital stamps!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this project in the following challenges!
• SanDee and amelie's Steampunk Challenges: Time Machine 
• The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Challenges: Use Distress
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Have a Heart

Lanterns and Distress

Since I'm still recovering, I've been playing around with inks, paints, and my stamps rather than coloring my usual open line images.

SCACD's newest rubber release features a great set called SCACD Montage Set #1,  which contains sixteen (16) stamps that are all fabulous. If you prefer, these images are available in smaller sets.

I chose to use the Eastern Lantern set which contains five different lanterns that can be used separately or in combination.

Here's my card!

Two of the five lanterns from the Eastern Lantern set were stamped onto a sheet of 6" x 8" 140 lb. Multi-Media cardstock using VersaMark ink, then heat set with White Fine Detail embossing powder. Evergreen Bough, Chipped Sapphire, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick, and Picked Raspberry Distress inks in vertical stripes, then spritzed with an Inkssentials Mini-Mister. I lifted the sheet to let the inks run a bit. A baby wipe was then used to wipe away the inks from the white embossed lanterns and the piece was die-cut with a Nestabilities die.

Here's a close up of the remaining piece so you could see the two different lanterns I used and the total color effect!

Small colored Memento ink pads were used to apply ink directly onto the largest lantern stamp from the Eastern Lantern set. This process took awhile, so I huffed onto the stamp to re-activate the ink, then stamped onto a piece of Neenah cardstock. I used my Copic markers to go over the some of the lines, color the flower, inside of the lantern, and add a warm glow outside the lantern. I used a VersaMarker to coat the flower, then heat embossed with Clear Detail embossing powder, which would act as a resist. This piece was die-cut using a Nestabilities die, then kept in the die while Squeezed Lemonade and Chipped Sapphire Distress inks were sponged over the background.

The large-lantern piece was popped out of the die, then adhered over the white-embossed Distress inked piece. Some White Inkssentials Gel pen accents were added to the lantern, then some Clear Gelly Glaze pen was added too to add dimension and shine.

The card was finished with a string of black rhinestones.

Thanks for visiting today!

Stampotique Challenge #133 -- Include a Heart in your Art

Jackie is hosting the first challenge for February, which is "Include a Heart in your Art!". If you'd like to play along with this challenge, visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules, so that you'll have the chance to win a great prize!!!

Here's what Jackie had to say about her challenge!

In Ancient Rome 13, 14 and 15th of February were celebrated as Lupercalia, a pagan fertility festival. By the mid 18th century, the passing of love notes had become popular in England, precursor to the St Valentines Day card as we know it today. Early cards were made of paper and lace. By the 19th century they became so popular that factories started to mass- produce them.  

So as the  14th approaches it's time for you  to put a heart in our Art  and then show us what you have made. 

I am looking forward to seeing all the different ways you add a heart to your art!

 ~~~

Here's my card using Stampotique's Keeper!

Keeper, who is way too cute, was stamped using Tuxedo Black Memento ink, then colored with my Copic markers. When I was done coloring, I added Clear Copic Spica Glitter pen to his eyes, then coated them with a layer of Diamond Glaze glue. Silver Metallic gel pen was added to his key, then Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen was added to his key and both sets of horns.

To create the heart, I applied Flashing Tape to black cardstock, but you could just as easily add Inkssentials Silver Foil tape. Heart and Scalloped Heart Nestabilities dies by Spellbinders dies were used to die-cut the cardstock, then the plain heart took a ride through my Big Kick inside of an Alterations embossing folder. When it came out,  I painted it with Fired Brick and Aged Mahogany Distress paints, let the paint set for a minute, then wiped it off. The paint stayed in the debossed areas. Sweet! A piece of foam was die-cut using a smaller heart die and adhered to the scalloped heart. Red Liner tape was applied to the edges of the embossed painted heart to seal the heart, creating a slightly puffy dimension. Leftover foil tape was die-cut using an old Hinges QuicKutz die, then adhered to the scalloped heart using Best Glue Ever by Scraperfect and mini-brads. An Idea-ology Locket Key was painted with the same two Distress paints, then adhered using star-shaped mini brads.

The patterned paper is from last year's Authentique 6x6 pad. Silver foil stickers and Washi tape were added to the card front to add some more visual interest. The heart was adhered, then Keeper was adhered using dimensional foam adhesive. The key, from my stash, was touched up with a red Sharpie, then adhered to the card using Waxy Flax.

Thanks for visiting today!

Bombshell Stamps Challenge!

Holley Barnhart, Bombshell Stamps' Ms. February, has shared her challenge over on the Bombshell Stamps Blog. Her challenge is called Bring The Heat.

You should play along with her challenge! Share your artwork with us for a chance to win a fabulous prize.

Here's my card using the Bombshell Angel set and the All My Heart set.

This is the first card that I've created after my second cataract surgery which has given me a pair of bionic eyes that have marvelous distance vision. I still need spectacles for mid-distance (computer and cooking) and reading and will also need to make a spectacle of myself sporting fabulously cool sunglasses!

As soon as the doc said I could drive (Driving sans specs is beyond weird and it's kind of totally amazing to wake up and be able to see well with both eyes!), I hied to the nearest Dollar Store and bought four pairs of readers in various strengths for a buck each. It was timely since we got a freakin' !#$% foot of snow yesterday here in New Jersey. I hate driving in snow AND I have discovered that snow is really, really bright and sparkly!

Anyways, these two images are the first that I've colored and fussy-cut. The card is simple, but my eyes tire really easily.

Basically, I stamped the cherub from the Bombshell Angel set and the flying flaming heart from the All My Heart set, colored both imges with Copic markers, fussy cut them, airbrushed a B21 Copic marker background, used sticker letters, and called it done!

It's not my best work ever, but since I worried that I would not be able to paper craft post surgery, I think it's pretty darned wonderful.

Thanks to visiting today!

My Koi Pond

SCACD recently released several new sets of rubber stamps, including SCACD Montage Set #2, which contains ten stamps. You can also buy these stamps in smaller sets if you'd prefer.

I've used two of the Koi stamps and the grouped Lily Pad stamp, from SCACD's Customize Your Koi Pond set (three Koi stamps, three Lily Pad stamps) to create this card.

My first step was to stamp the big grouped Lily Pad stamp with Lettuce Adirondack ink onto 140 lb. Mixed Media Strathmore cardstock. I colored the pads using Inktense pencils, then coated them with a layer of Glossy Glue and Seal, which acted like a resist and added a glossy texture. The largest Koi was stamped with Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey, and Rusty Hinge Distress inks, and colored with Distress markers to even out the stamping and add a bit of shading.

The large grouped Lily Pad and big Koi were stamped onto Eclipse tape and fussy cut. The Eclipse tape masks were placed over their counterparts and a variety of BG and B Copic markers were airbrushed over them to create the water in the Koi pond.

The masks were lifted and the stamped pond was set aside. You'd think that with all the dies that I have, I'd have one to create a frame for this scene. Nosiree. So a cardstock frame was cut so that the aperture would fit the Koi pond. The frame was layered over the Koi pond. It looked a little stark so I used one of the two dies included in SCACD's Classic Corners set to die-cut kraft cardstock, which were placed in the four corners of the frame. Much better.

I have an extensive punch collection and I've been trying to remember to use it. The collection contains four dragonfly punches and I used three of them (McGill, Hyglo, and Paper Shapers) to punch white metallic cardstock. The three dragonflies were colored (on both sides) using Distress markers and were adhered to the card. Their wings were folded up to make 'em a bit more realistic.

A strip of Kraft cardstock was cut with a Die-Namics die. Twine attached to a Copic-colored coin was adhered over it.

Thanks for visiting today!